Romantic novelist scoops award

A city author is celebrating after she received a Romantic Novelists’ Association award for outstanding achievement.

Carole Matthews, who lives in Tattenhoe, was honoured at a glittering party hosted by the Romantic Novelists’ Association. The award was presented by iconic novelist Barbara Taylor-Bradford, author of A Woman of Substance.

The award, in recognition of Carole’s 18 years as a bestselling author, marked the publication of her 26th novel The Cake Shop in the Garden. Fellow author Jill Mansell also received an award.

She said: “It was fantastic to meet Barbara, she was so charming. Jill and I started out publishing romance and were with the same publishing house for many years, so it was lovely to receive our awards together.”

Carole is published in 30 different countries and has sold over 4million books. Her latest book, The Cake Shop in the Garden is out now in hardback and ebook. The paperback will follow on April 23.